Maloney, Pagoto weigh in on new tanning bed regs in New York Times

By Lisa M. Larson

UMass Medical School Communications

May 30, 2014

The FDA’s decision to require black-box warnings on tanning beds will prove to the public that the devices do carry a high risk for skin cancer, said Mary Maloney, MD, professor of medicine and director of dermatologic surgery, in a May 30 New York Times article.

“Now they won’t be able to deny that there’s any risk to indoor tanning because there will be a label and warnings,” Dr. Maloney, a former chair of the regulatory policy committee at the American Academy of Dermatology, told the Times.

The FDA announced strict new regulations on May 29 for tanning beds, including warning labels on the devices stating they should not be used by children under 18. Manufacturers will also be required to warn the public of the risk of cancer in any literature that advertises the machines.

Sherry Pagoto, PhD, associate professor of medicine, is concerned that users may not read the warning labels, and suggests including the warning in parental consent forms in states that require parental consent.

“That would be really important information for a parent’s decision,” Dr. Pagoto is quoted in the Times article. “We can’t just expect them to know.”